Hot Spring Resort Development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in Water Use Regulation

Hot spring resort development in Laguna Province,
Philippines: Challenges in water use regulation
TEAM OCEAN
CALOZA FLOJO
CARANGLAN GESULGA
CUBALLES JANDOC
DELA PEÑA MACABENTA
DOMINGO PAZ
PROBLEM (Challenges in water use regulation)
This study seeks to explore the nature and possible

impacts of groundwater utilization in hot spring resorts
in Calamba and Los Baños in Laguna Province. This
study also analyzes the issues and challenges in the
implementation of policies and laws to regulate water
use in these resorts.
RESEARCH GAP
In the Philippines, there is still no established

groundwater monitoring network system that can
generate basic data on groundwater quality and quantity
conditions. Basic information on the hydrogeologic
situation of the area; inventory of well users, location of
wells and groundwater usage; groundwater levels and
status of groundwater quality; and the possible effects
of groundwater quantity and quality decline are
required to understand the issues and emerging
problems in groundwater management.
These information are also needed to formulate better
planning and policy decisions.
LIMITATIONS
According to the Water Code (Article 13), “all waters

belong to the state” and that “no person including
government instrumentalities or government-owned or
controlled corporations shall appropriate water without
a water right, which shall be evidenced by a document
known as a Water Permit”
However, Monitoring of groundwater withdrawal is
much more difficult because the users in these resorts
are not documented or registered. . Aside from
monitoring, results of this study can also provide
insights in setting guidelines specifically for the
utilization of hot spring water in the country.
This study focuses mainly on recreational usage i.e.

(spa and hot springs) of groundwater on the selected
areas: Calamba and Los Baños Laguna.
METHOD USED
From the secondary data and various site visits, several hot spring resorts were selected for the survey.
An interview questionnaire was developed for the survey to gather information on the profile of resorts
and resorts operations, including date of establishment, size of the pool, frequency of water replacement,
months of peak and lean seasons, depth of wells, and observed changes in volume of water from the
pumps through time.
TECHNIQUES
During the 2-month fieldwork (September–October 2014),

a total of 65 resorts were surveyed. The volume of monthly
consumption of water for the pools in each resort was
calculated using the following formula:
MVps = V × Fps (1)

MVls = V × F ls (2)
where, V is volume of water estimated using pool size and

depth and F is frequency of water change per month (ps for
peak season and ls for lean season).
CONCLUSION
Hot spring water resorts and spas in Calamba and Los Baños,
Laguna are estimated to consume a large volume of groundwater
which could result to over-extraction and decrease in
groundwater quantity. However, monitoring of actual usage is
difficult as most of these resorts do not have water use permits.
The Water Code of the Philippines requires water users to
register and apply for permits for water allocation, but still many
resorts have not yet registered with the NWRB.
Results from the initial survey show that most of the resorts are fairly
new, established only in the past decade
These results show an estimated huge demand of groundwater from these

water resorts.
RECOMMENDATION
It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of
water regulations and enhance partnerships among
the national and local government agencies, private
sector groups, civil society and communities in the
regular monitoring of groundwater resources to
promote sustainable use.
ASSESMENT, REVIEW, AND
RECOMMENDATION
To sustainably manage
groundwater resources, it is also
necessary to promote groundwater
research and institutionalize
groundwater information
management systems. These will
promote understanding of the
dynamics and processes that shape
the groundwater systems.

Hot Spring Resort Development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in Water Use Regulation

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Hot Spring Resort Development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in Water Use Regulation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Hot spring resort development in Laguna Province,

Philippines: Challenges in water use regulation

This study seeks to explore the nature and possible

In the Philippines, there is still no established

According to the Water Code (Article 13), “all waters

This study focuses mainly on recreational usage i.e.

During the 2-month fieldwork (September–October 2014),

MVps = V × Fps (1)

where, V is volume of water estimated using pool size and

These results show an estimated huge demand of groundwater from these

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